UK post-punk act Bureau De Change release their exciting and important debut EP, Are You Flirting With Me?

By Graeme Smith

Flora, Will, Connor, and Louis are the four members of “local crime syndicate that no-one asked for,” Bureau De Change. A post-punk project that doesn’t take itself too seriously, they’ve burst on our radar thanks to new four-track EP, Are You Flirting With Me?

For all the fun there is an important political message that cuts through their music. They are unapologetically feminist and unafraid to call out society’s imbalances. It all plays out against a raucous musical backdrop that brings plenty of noise and disharmony.

The sound is typified by EP opener Shortcut to Destruction. “Suck my d*ck!” Flora declares with tongue firmly planted in cheek during a cathartic rock number to play for your haters. A fiery crescendo has her pose the question: “why won’t you call me daddy?”

Shaken, Not Stirred takes on national institution James Bond in a less than flattering manner while more broadly commentating on toxic masculinity. ‘arry Goes to the Pub follows it with a heavy, biographical tale set in UK’s grimy, right-leaning underbelly.

The EP is rounded off by previously released single The Potter’s Wheel. As a single, it’s grabbed a lot of attention and is the perfect, eerie, visceral ending to this uncomfortable and important collection.

In a world where feminism has made ground but still has much to do to achieve equality, anthems like the ones on this EP are vital. Bureau De Change’s decision to speak up is to be applauded, and they have accompanied their angst with the perfect edgy post-punk soundtrack. This record is killer, and I bet they kill live too.

Are You Flirting With Me? is out now and you can give it a listen below.